Retail therapy

Posted on Fri Mar 31st, 2023 @ 12:25am by 1st Lieutenant Kayleigh London

Mission: Shoreleave

{ON}

Kiera had strolled down to the airlock to wait for Kayleigh, they’d planned to go shopping if Kayleigh was allowed to go. No doubt she’d find out soon enough one way or the other.

Kayleigh arrived with a man in tow. He clearly had mixed heritage judging from the low ridges on his forehead.

"Really Mel. I am just going shopping, I can do that without a bloody bodyguard."

"Orders are orders, Kayleigh. You were allowed to go but not alone. Besides you really think I am going to miss out on seeing you shop for dresses."

Kay turned on him. "If you tell dad and Tasin I am going to bloody kill you deader than dead."

“Whoa there!” Kiera smiled. “That sounds like a promise more than a threat. I take it we have company?” She nodded politely to the man with Kayleigh.

"I am Melor Pallara." He introduced himself. "Kay's parents kind of adopted me when I was a boy. And today I am her bodyguard."

"Marines don't need bodyguards." Kay grumbled.

“Maybe they don’t, but better safe than sorry right Melor?” Kiera offered Melor a smile.

"I agree." He did not seemed phased by Kay's behaviour at all. "Her dad would kill me if anything happened to her. I will stay in the background and be no trouble." He did not tell the ladies that he would certainly be taking pictures to show the rest of the family Kay in a dress.

“Sounds good to me” Kiera nodded and looked at Kay. “Let’s go enjoy ourselves! I don’t know about you but I need a little time away from it all.”

"Yeah me too." Kay ignored her brother completely. Melor used to her antics just smiled and followed the women.

“Okay then, let’s go find what interests you. Window shopping is a lot of fun, plus it helps find the bargains.” Kiera grinned.

"I can't imagine shopping for clothes is fun. Could we also look for knives? I could always use some more to hang on my wall."

Behind them Melor snorted.

Kiera gave Kay a surprised look. “Knives? Well it wasn’t what I had in mind, but if we see anywhere we can look.”

"Good. Shopping for weapons is fun. I admit that. Much more fun than dresses and shoes."

“Well I doubt that we’ll find weapons for sale, it requires a plethora of paperwork and legalities to run a shop like that.” Kiera offered a smile. “Besides we’re supposed to be clothing shopping.”

"Yeah. I guess." Kay saw her last chance to get out of it go up in smoke. "Ok then, lead on. It can't be too bad."

“That’s the spirit!” Kiera smiled and nodded as they set off. “Let me know if you see anything you like.”

"You pick a store, miss." Melor said. "Or we will still be here tomorrow."

Kay shot him a dirty look.

“Okay, So how’s about right here?” Kiera smiled as she stopped in-front of shop selling babywear and other items. “I understand our ship’s Counsellor is pregnant, I like to plan ahead so I’m going to pop in here and buy a gift for when the time comes.”

"Yup my boss is very pregnant." Kay said. A baby shop was something she did not visit every day either. But there would not be anything to try on so it was classed better than dress shopping. "Good idea. Maybe I can get her something as well. Maybe a small sized sword or something like that?"

“A sword for a baby?” Kiera grinned. “I’ll help you find something a bit more appropriate.” She headed inside, her eyes immediately falling on an ornately decorated, hand carved large wooden crib. “Wow! Now that’s beautiful.”

"Yeah." Even Kay had to admit. "I like wood. So much better. You should get it."

Kiera nodded. “In that case I will. I just hope she’ll like it.” She headed over to the storekeeper and arranged purchase and discreet delivery to the Resolution.

Kay was still looking around and did not have a clue of what to buy. This was something her mum would be a lot better at. She looked at Melor but he was not going to get sucked into this.

“How’s about this?” Kiera smiled as she pointed out a lovely knitted shawl. “I’m sure the Counsellor would love this for her little one.”

"If you think so." Kay said. "It looks nice enough."

“Then that’s settled” Kiera smiled warmly. “Next we go find some clothes.”

"Yay!" Kay said trying to be enthusiastic.

Kiera grinned. “You’re really hating this idea aren’t you? We don’t have to go shopping if you don’t want to.”

"I promised." Kay grumbled. "And I kind of do want to surprise Kas. It's justs this hunting for clothes and then trying it on." She shrugged. "Not looking forward to that."

Kiera smiled. “Well you need to know whether it suits you. Either that or maybe I could lend you something of mine?”

"Nah let's get something. I want to do it now." Kay said. "And I will pretend to like it even."

Kiera grinned. “Well I can’t ask more than that can I? Let’s go this way.”

"Ok, I will take your lead, you are better at this than I am." Kay said.

“In that case...” Kiera looked around. “That shop right there looks like a good place.” She motioned Kay to follow her.

It did not look too big or overwhelming so Kay was happy to follow along.

Walking into the shop Kiera smiled. “Now this looks ideal, let’s browse and see what you might like.”

Melor was standing close to the shop opening so he could oversee who came in and tried very hard not to smile.

"Ok. You pick something that you think Kas will like."

“Okay...” Kiera had a look around pulling out a pretty looking three quarter length dress. “What about something like this? Or would something more daring be more your thing?”

"Uhm no I am not daring when it comes to dresses. I don't want everyone staring at me." Kay blushed.

“Okay, so safe it is.” Kiera smiled. “A longer dress that doesn’t figure hug too much.”

"That sounds about right." Kay muttered.

“Okay then” Kiera motioned to a rack of dresses further down the shop. “How’s about these dresses? Have a look through, see if there’s anything you like, and want to try on.”

"Right." Kay went through them but wasn't sure. They all seemed so...feminine. "What do you think, Kiera?"

“Well dresses are meant to be feminine I’m afraid” Kiera smiled. “Best thing to do is to try them on, see what suits you.”

"Ok. I guess I like purple, blue and red." Kay said looking the dresses over.

“That’s a start” Kiera nodded. “How’s about you choose and I’ll tell you what I think?”

Kay handed over a purple dress that was so long it would come to her ankles and that would cover every part of her body up to her neck and would make her look like an amish woman in purple.

“Hmm I’m not so sure about that one, unless you want to look like you’re hiding?” Kiera smiled. “I’ll tell you what...” she saw a similar looking long purple dress but this time with more of a feminine neckline. “Try this one”

Melor was trying very hard not to laugh and he avoided eye contact with both women.

"Ok then." Kay said and went to the changing rooms.

Five minutes later she came out wearing the dress and her boots underneath. "I guess it fits." Kay said uncertain.

“Just one minute” Kiera looked around. “What’s your shoe size?”

"8." Kay said.

Nodding Kiera went over to some shoes, coming back a few moments later with a flat pair of shoes. “Try these, I don’t think high heels would be a good idea for you.”

"Oh hell no. I don't want to break my legs thank you very much." These did not look so bad. Kay sat down and changed out her boots for the shoes and stood back up.

Melor whistled. "You clean up well, little sister."

Kiera nodded in agreement. “I have to agree, you look good in that. Do you like it?”

"I guess." Kay said uncertainly. "It looks so girly. Would people still take me serious if I look like this?"

“Of course they will” Kiera nodded. “It’s not like you’ll be wearing it on duty. You want to look good for your date, this is the way to do it.”

"Ok." Kay smiled shyly. "I guess I will buy it then. Both the dress and the shoes. Oh do I need make-up as well?" She pulled a face.

“I can lend you some of mine, and help you choose the right shades to put on.” Kiera smiled warmly. “You’ll look wonderful, trust me.”

"Ok then."Kay agreed. "I only have brothers and my mum is not that much into these things either. She tried to see if I was interested as a teenager but when I said I wasn't she didn't push."

Kiera nodded. “Just take it a step at a time, you might find you like putting a dress on every now and then.”

"For fun? Are you crazy?"

“What’s wrong with that?” Kiera smiled. “Give it a try, even if it’s in private.”

"But it does not feel comfortable. Why would you want to wear dresses in private?" Kay asked befuddled.

“I meant just for you to get a feel for it. You don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to.” Kiera smiled warmly. “I enjoy it, but not all women do.”

"Really, you really enjoy it? My mum almost never does dresses, nor does aunt Alec. Or Tony. I did not know that was a thing."

“For those of us raised that way it is” Kiera took a dress she’d been looking at, and matched it with some high heels. “I enjoy looking good for Robert, he likes seeing me in dresses when we go out together.”

"OK then I will give it a try." Kay said firmly.

“Don’t just do it because I said so” Kiera smiled. “Do it because you want to.”

"Well...."

"You will have to show her." Melor said. "That is the only way this one is going to be able to believe it. You do look nice, Kay."

“See Melor says you look nice, he’s male so his opinion must count for something” Kiera smiled warmly. “I wouldn’t lie, honestly you look great.”

"He's my brother." Kay grumbled. "And you had better not have taken any photo's Melor! I don't want the other males in the family seeing this."

He tried to look innocent.

“In that case take my word for it” Kiera smiled warmly. “Come on, I’ll treat you to those as a gift.”

"Ohh, that is so sweet of you. Thank you." Kay was beaming now. "And maybe we can go for ice cream now? My treat!"

“Ice cream!” Kiera nodded enthusiastically. “You’re on! Just let me pay for our things and I’ll be right with you.”